Mohammed Shafiqul Islam's slim volume of poetry On the Other Side of Silence, tries to wade through the general environment of shock, betrayal, and overall moral degeneration to focus on the necessity of artistic endeavour, especially when silence is chosen or enforced.

She stares at the screen, shaking his words as though they have pockets and will surely release something secret if she keeps at it long enough.

The two of them, with their own longings, stared out into the void. She felt some of the ink leech out of her, dripping out, thick and metallic, and dissipate into the darkness beyond.

They all look the same with different colours. Like my friends. All different. All same.

I hope this story about wishing happiness and success for our progeny gets transmitted from body to body, blood to blood, mind to mind.’

Nothing extraordinary has ever occurred in my life. My sadness, pain, success and desire have all been mediocre.